Supplying own parts for service

10-01-2009 01:45AM

Darragh29 wrote: »

That's my point. Your mechanic is 50 Euro down on that transaction. I'm not in a position to speak as to how your mechanic runs his business but if he is losing 50 Euro on every customer, he is exposing his business to serious difficulties. If he is running a business from the side of his house and is not carrying normal business overheads, then he might be able to afford to do this and more power to him, but businesses that have 2-3K rent a month to pay and local council rates, trade insurance, etc, cannot afford to operate like this and it is very unfair to expect any business to compromise it's operations so that you can have something done on the cheap.

Would you go into your local and throw the barman a quid to serve you a can of Heineken that you bought yourself for 1.99 Euro in the local Eurospar???

I can see where your comming from, my local garage is in a small town and I would imagine the overheads are not bad(only 2 people work in the garage) but still what I am wondering is if the profit difference is as big as you say why do some garage ask their customers to buy parts rather than make some quick profit?

Actually in fairness thinking about this I couldnt say for sure that this is the way he works for all customers as my family would be good customers for years but the impression I get is that this is the way the garage operates.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 02:14AM

Whitney Tangy Crab wrote: »

I can see where your comming from, my local garage is in a small town and I would imagine the overheads are not bad(only 2 people work in the garage) but still what I am wondering is if the profit difference is as big as you say why do some garage ask their customers to buy parts rather than make some quick profit?

I can't imagine why someone would operate their business like this but each to their own. It's not a question of making a "quick" profit. It is profit that is necessary to pay operating costs.

Terrontress · 10-01-2009 11:17AM

Darragh29 wrote: »

Would you go into your local and throw the barman a quid to serve you a can of Heineken that you bought yourself for 1.99 Euro in the local Eurospar???

Are you familiar with the concept of corkage? It's widespread in the hospitality. Not using Heineken but the same concept.

I just don't see why, if separate line item detail is provided for each element of the service that a customer cannot choose elements he wishes to avail of, legal obligations notwithstanding.

Mr.Diagnostic · 10-01-2009 01:51PM

Fishtits wrote: »

OK. Lets have a rational look at this issue...

1) Correct parts,

any mechanic will tell you that there are a multitude of different possibilities for the routine service parts fitted to any particular make/model/year etc. its a nightmare in that sometimes you won't know exactly which filter/brake pad etc you need, often the exact part can only be identified by having the old one in your hand.

2) Warranty,

If you supply parts that fail, you will pay twice to have the replacement fitted. Your supplier will replace the faulty part under warranty but will not cover the additional cost of a second installment by your mechanic. If your mechanic sourced the parts, they will cover the entire cost of warranty replacement ie parts & labour.

3) VAT,

If you buy your own parts you pay 21.5% VAT. If your mechanic buys the parts you pay 13.5% VAT. Given that in my experience most mechanics make between 10 usually & max 20% on the parts element of a bill your saving is minimal.

4) OEM spec parts,

Vehicle manufacturers do not make oil filters, brake pads etc. they buy them from companies that specialise in these technologies. These manufacturers also sell to the aftermarket. There are also manufacturers (not just the Chinese...) who poorly copy these parts that sell to the aftermarket. The chances are that your mechanic will know that a Mann filter sold by X Motor Factor is in fact a genuine "German Marque" filter etc. You do not have this knowledge.

5) Talk to your mech,

Ask in advance whether it suits that you get the parts, some mechanics like you to do this, and may guide you as to where to get them. Its not a black & white issue.

Cheers,

Excellent points.

Terrontress wrote: »

Are you familiar with the concept of corkage?

That kinda defeats the customers aim of saving money by supplying their own parts.

Terrontress wrote: »

I just don't see why, if separate line item detail is provided for each element of the service that a customer cannot choose elements he wishes to avail of, legal obligations notwithstanding.

That’s very simple. The proprietor makes that decision in the same way as some restaurants allow a corkage service and some don’t.

Terrontress · 10-01-2009 02:37PM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Excellent points.

That kinda defeats the customers aim of saving money by supplying their own parts.

That’s very simple. The proprietor makes that decision in the same way as some restaurants allow a corkage service and some don’t.

Well in my earlier post I said it would most likely result in a higher labour charge as the mechanic has to make money somewhere.

I just don't see it as being particularly sensible to pay a large mark up on a product, which is itemised on a bill your receive, when you know you can get it elsewhere cheaper.

What is in effect happening is that the mechanic is loading the price of the parts to subsidise the labour cost.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 02:59PM

Terrontress wrote: »

Well in my earlier post I said it would most likely result in a higher labour charge as the mechanic has to make money somewhere.

I just don't see it as being particularly sensible to pay a large mark up on a product, which is itemised on a bill your receive, when you know you can get it elsewhere cheaper.

What is in effect happening is that the mechanic is loading the price of the parts to subsidise the labour cost.

It isn't really. There is a financial model for an independent garage operation and if you operate outside of it, you expose yourself to risk.

It isn't just about money, here's another reason why I had a zero tolerance policy with regard to customers supplying their own parts. It's because it sends out a message that you'll run with anything, like a kind of "whatever you're having yourself" message. It encourages an over familiarity with your customer that can ultimately lead to your customer thinking that you're a great lad who is happy to wait until the following week or month to get paid for a job. You could have a situation where this customer who you have been allowing supply their own parts, needs a new gearbox or engine and you will have to source this for them. You get the component, and the customer falsely thinks that you're their friend now and you'll have put anywhere up to 1,000 Euro or more into this transaction and often your customer will come to pick up the car thinking that they can "throw the money into you next week". I know people posting here will think that this is just absolute bullsh*t but if you work in the independent end of the trade, you'll be well able to identify with this and it is a major problem for independent garage outlets and it all starts off with the usual rules of business being set aside and the customer being allowed to dictate the terms of the transaction on their own terms and liberties end up being taken, such is human nature.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 03:30PM

Terrontress wrote: »

Are you familiar with the concept of corkage? It's widespread in the hospitality. Not using Heineken but the same concept.

I just don't see why, if separate line item detail is provided for each element of the service that a customer cannot choose elements he wishes to avail of, legal obligations notwithstanding.

Yeah, corkage could make sense at a wedding where 30K upwards is being handed over. Even then, some wedding outlets could be charging you 200K for your wedding and will still not allow you corkage. You can't go into your local and demand or expect corkage.

I know the motor industry is getting bad press at the moment and the independent sector of the industry is often thought to be untrustworthy or unreliable or unequipped to resolve vehicle issues for customers, but there is another side of the argument here that independent garage operators can unfortunately relate to and the truth is that the customer is to blame for some of the problems by expecting garage operators to operate outside of a simple business model at cost to themselves.

metricspaces · 10-01-2009 04:49PM

Fishtits wrote: »

OK. Lets have a rational look at this issue...

1) Correct parts,

any mechanic will tell you that there are a multitude of different possibilities for the routine service parts fitted to any particular make/model/year etc. its a nightmare in that sometimes you won't know exactly which filter/brake pad etc you need, often the exact part can only be identified by having the old one in your hand.

2) Warranty,

If you supply parts that fail, you will pay twice to have the replacement fitted. Your supplier will replace the faulty part under warranty but will not cover the additional cost of a second installment by your mechanic. If your mechanic sourced the parts, they will cover the entire cost of warranty replacement ie parts & labour.

3) VAT,

If you buy your own parts you pay 21.5% VAT. If your mechanic buys the parts you pay 13.5% VAT. Given that in my experience most mechanics make between 10 usually & max 20% on the parts element of a bill your saving is minimal.

4) OEM spec parts,

Vehicle manufacturers do not make oil filters, brake pads etc. they buy them from companies that specialise in these technologies. These manufacturers also sell to the aftermarket. There are also manufacturers (not just the Chinese...) who poorly copy these parts that sell to the aftermarket. The chances are that your mechanic will know that a Mann filter sold by X Motor Factor is in fact a genuine "German Marque" filter etc. You do not have this knowledge.

5) Talk to your mech,

Ask in advance whether it suits that you get the parts, some mechanics like you to do this, and may guide you as to where to get them. Its not a black & white issue.

Cheers,

6) OEM Parts - Part II

I priced various parts from a main dealer in Ireland and a main dealer in the UK (all prices ex-vat). On average it was 60% more expensive to buy the parts in Ireland. For one particular part it was 100% dearer in Ireland.

There is simply no explaining that sort of mark up other than we are over charged in Ireland.

I can imagine this is one of the reasons why a customer would want to buy the parts themselves. There are three benefits here for the customer:

(a) they know that an OEM part has been used.
(b) they save money.
(c) they save time, in some circumstances on special order parts that a main dealer in Ireland wouldn't have, but one in the UK would have, it is quicker for it to be posted from the UK.

Terrontress · 10-01-2009 05:15PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

Yeah, corkage could make sense at a wedding where 30K upwards is being handed over. Even then, some wedding outlets could be charging you 200K for your wedding and will still not allow you corkage. You can't go into your local and demand or expect corkage.

I know the motor industry is getting bad press at the moment and the independent sector of the industry is often thought to be untrustworthy or unreliable or unequipped to resolve vehicle issues for customers, but there is another side of the argument here that independent garage operators can unfortunately relate to and the truth is that the customer is to blame for some of the problems by expecting garage operators to operate outside of a simple business model at cost to themselves.

I am not at all suggesting that you or that anyone are being underhand, you advertise / quote your prices and people don't have to take it if they don't want. I just don't understand why, when you provide an itemised invoice, a customer cannot substitute an item on that invoice if they can get it cheaper elsewhere. Well, I do understand it in that you are charging more for the part than you are paying for it. But I don't believe it to be fair to impose that on your customers.

You might as well stick €50 sundries onto each job you do. Say you are not doing the job without it.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 05:31PM

Terrontress wrote: »

I am not at all suggesting that you or that anyone are being underhand, you advertise / quote your prices and people don't have to take it if they don't want. I just don't understand why, when you provide an itemised invoice, a customer cannot substitute an item on that invoice if they can get it cheaper elsewhere. Well, I do understand it in that you are charging more for the part than you are paying for it. But I don't believe it to be fair to impose that on your customers.

You might as well stick €50 sundries onto each job you do. Say you are not doing the job without it.

No but here is what usually happens with a customer who wants to supply their own parts, they get you to commit to a price on the basis of the garage sourcing the parts first, then they try to get the price down by suggesting that they get the parts themselves!

Here's how it happens...!

Customer: Can you give me a price to replace a clutch???

Owner: I'll do up a price and call you back in ten minutes (say for example the retail cost of parts to you is 192.56 Euro and 4 hours labour @ 50 Euro/Hr, costing 200 Euro. If I get 25% discount on the above parts, I make 48.14 Euro profit on the parts).

Owner: Now, I can do that transaction for you at 392.56 Euro excluding VAT @ 13.5% (or VAT @ 13.5% being 52.99 Euro, the VAT inclusive price is 445.55 Euro). The price is broken down into 4 hours labour @ 50 Euro an hour and the parts are costing you 192.56 Euro.

Customer: Great, how about if I supply the parts and you just charge me the labour for fitting them???

Now what is important to note here is that I've given this customer my labour rate of 50 Euro an hour, and it simply isn't open to me now to adjust my labour rate upwards to 65 Euro an hour and spread the 48.14 Euro I'm losing in profit (by allowing the customer to supply parts), across the 4 hours labour I was originally going to charge my customer!!!

You can't run a business like this, you wouldn't have any credibility and it would not be fair on the customer.

mickdw · 10-01-2009 09:38PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

Let's see if we can simplify this any further for you as you are obviously struggling with the very fundamentals here....

I'll start with this... When I stamp a service book for a customer, this means I have serviced the car in line with the service recommendations and maintenance schedule issued by the vehicle manufacturer. That stamp means that I have removed whatever parts the manufacturer says should be removed as part of a scheduled vehicle service, and I replace those parts with new parts of a specific quality, as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. It also says that I have carried out the necessary checks and inspections as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Now, whether an indy garage stamps the service book, or an authorised dealer stamps the service book, this is what the stamp signifies. That the vehicle has been serviced, maintained and inspected in a manner that is consistent with the recommendations issued by the manufacturer of that vehicle.

You will of course find people who will refuse to accept that even though the book has been stamped and an invoice has been issued, that the vehicle has actually been serviced as per the manufacturers recommendations, or indeed has been serviced at all. If you are dealing with a cowboy operation, whether it be an authorised dealer cowboy operation or an independent cowboy operation, these concerns might be justified.

But if you are dealing with someone that you trust (and why on earth would you be dealing with them if you didn't trust them), these concerns are entirely unjustified.

You clearly do not trust whoever is working on your car to deal with you truthfully and honestly. That's your business, but don't think that professional operators contributing to threads here on a daily basis, will let you come along and make out that hard working honest people operating in the industry cannot be trusted to simply do work that they have charged for, and let you spead completely unfounded paranoia and cynicism here, and not call you on it.

For completeness, you wouldn't ever be a customer of mine, because I wouldn't take your business on the basis of you buying your own parts and you'll find that this is how most professional operators run their business.

Ok, example to explain my original point:

1/ I travel to other side of country to buy a car. I find the book full of unknown indy stamps and indy invoices and invoice from factors for relevant parts. This would be excellent in my opinion.
2/ I find the book full of indy stamps and an invoices from indy stating things like oil & filter changed.

Even if garage says castrol slx used, there is a possibility that a dodgy garage could be using cheaper oil and charging for the expensive stuff and as Im possibly buying this car on the other side of the country, I dont know the reputation of the garage. Now if a factors receipt states slx purchased, well thats a certainty as there is no reason to misrepresent the product purchased.
Now, you appear to be doing everything by the book and I cannot argue with that but again, you seem to dwell on the fact that I should trust the garage doing the work. This is completely off the point as explained above as my argument was in relation to future buyers viewing the car who have never heard of MY TRUSTED GARAGE and having a cast iron service history. And if you are going to say, that there are no garages who would charge for castrol slx and use the stuff they have in stock, well you are very innocent indeed.

Do you accept my point?

Am I right in thinking you failed in your indy garage enterprise? Perhaps its not me who is struggling with the very fundamentals here!

10-01-2009 09:57PM

I still maintain that an indy mechanics job is to work on a car and parts should not come into it. My question has still not been answered would any of you guys here saying you only fit the parts that you supply fit specialist performance parts that you couldnt possibly have in stock and could take weeks to order had the customer not already bought them and asked you to fit them?

maidhc · 10-01-2009 10:10PM

This is a weird thread.

Anytime I get work done to my car I just bring it to a mechanic that I trust. I'm not going to question his judgment as to what parts he fits any more than I am his skill in fitting them.

He sends a bill that, all things considered, I view to be fair.

(As regards a specialist part I don't think my mechanic would have any problem with fitting it, but I would see why he would have an objection to doing it for a random punter... a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and all that)

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 10:24PM

mickdw wrote: »

Ok, example to explain my original point:

1/ I travel to other side of country to buy a car. I find the book full of unknown indy stamps and indy invoices and invoice from factors for relevant parts. This would be excellent in my opinion.
2/ I find the book full of indy stamps and an invoices from indy stating things like oil & filter changed.

Even if garage says castrol slx used, there is a possibility that a dodgy garage could be using cheaper oil and charging for the expensive stuff and as Im possibly buying this car on the other side of the country, I dont know the reputation of the garage. Now if a factors receipt states slx purchased, well thats a certainty as there is no reason to misrepresent the product purchased.
Now, you appear to be doing everything by the book and I cannot argue with that but again, you seem to dwell on the fact that I should trust the garage doing the work. This is completely off the point as explained above as my argument was in relation to future buyers viewing the car who have never heard of MY TRUSTED GARAGE and having a cast iron service history. And if you are going to say, that there are no garages who would charge for castrol slx and use the stuff they have in stock, well you are very innocent indeed.

Do you accept my point?

Am I right in thinking you failed in your indy garage enterprise? Perhaps its not me who is struggling with the very fundamentals here!

No matter what way I try to look at your argument, and in fairness to me, I am genuinely trying to see the point you are making, it simply doesn't stand up. No matter what outlet you use, authorised or independent, there is no certainty of the type you are seeking.

You could bring your car to an independent garage for a service, (you obviously couldn't do this with an authorised outlet as they would throw you out of the building!), and hand in your service components and your container of Castrol SLX lubricant, and the mechanic can throw that in the back of his car for his next nixer and fill your car up with OEM GM specification lubricant, and throw an empty container of Castrol SLX back at you to "prove" that the mechanic used your oil!

You're going to probably come back and tell me that you will stand over the mechanic and supervise the whole operation to make sure that your parts and your Castrol SLX are being used, and I'll come back and say would you stop wasting everyone's fu*king time including your own and just service the car yourself if this is how inherently cynical you are of people who work in aftersales.

I ran a highly successful independent garage and I decided to get out of the business because I found myself dealing with too many time wasting idiots who think they know everything and think that when you are actually trying to provide an excellent standard of service to them, that you are actually robbing them. What actually made me decide to get out of the business in the end was dealing with people like yourself who cannot be convinced that you are acting in their best interests at all times, no matter what you do for them.

I had enough of trying to convince people that if I was doing a clutch for them and discovered through my own dilligence that they needed a CV boot or a ball joint replaced, that it wasn't actually me trying to "rob" or "con" them, that this was just me doing my job. The biggest headache any independent garage owner has is the know-it-all customer who has it in his head that you are out to "get" or "do" him, but in all reality hasn't a fu*king clue what he is talking about, his head is just full of crap that he has heard down in the pub on the high stool.

maidhc · 10-01-2009 10:29PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

I had enough of trying to convince people that if I was doing a clutch for them and discovered through my own dilligence that they needed a CV boot or a ball joint replaced, that it wasn't actually me trying to "rob" or "con" them, that this was just me doing my job. The biggest headache any independent garage owner has is the know-it-all customer who has it in his head that you are out to "get" or "do" him, but in all reality hasn't a fu*king clue what he is talking about, his head is just full of crap that he has heard down in the pub on the high stool.

I am in a completely different profession, but I know exactly how you feel.

10-01-2009 10:46PM

maidhc wrote: »

This is a weird thread.

Anytime I get work done to my car I just bring it to a mechanic that I trust. I'm not going to question his judgment as to what parts he fits any more than I am his skill in fitting them.

He sends a bill that, all things considered, I view to be fair.

(As regards a specialist part I don't think my mechanic would have any problem with fitting it, but I would see why he would have an objection to doing it for a random punter... a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and all that)

I have complete trust in my local mechanic but the point I am making is: for instance I brought my sisters car in a few months ago and he checked it out and said it needed a clutch. He told me to buy the clutch in the main dealer and mention his name so as to get the trade price. This has been the case any time he has not had the parts in stock, brake pads for my car, wheel baring for dads car etc etc and his labour is so so much less than would be charged by a dealer yet he runs a very successful business and always has at least twice as much work on as the garage can handle.

On the topic of specialist parts, if I want to fit far better brakes to my car and I cannot do it myself and if all indy mechanics refuse to fit parts they havnt supplied at an unfair mark up, how do I get the brakes fitted?

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 10:48PM

maidhc wrote: »

I am in a completely different profession, but I know exactly how you feel.

So am I now thank Christ and I'll never put myself in a position where I am dealing with the public again. I still work for myself but am making more money now for around 2% of the hassle and crap that comes with car servicing and maintenance. I know several folks in aftersales in both authorised dealerships in aftersales and I know several folks running independent garages and the one thing we all can agree on is that it is an absolutely thankless job.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 10:52PM

Whitney Tangy Crab wrote: »

I have complete trust in my local mechanic but the point I am making is: for instance I brought my sisters car in a few months ago and he checked it out and said it needed a clutch. He told me to buy the clutch in the main dealer and mention his name so as to get the trade price. This has been the case any time he has not had the parts in stock, brake pads for my car, wheel baring for dads car etc etc and his labour is so so much less than would be charged by a dealer yet he runs a very successful business and always has at least twice as much work on as the garage can handle.

On the topic of specialist parts, if I want to fit far better brakes to my car and I cannot do it myself and if all indy mechanics refuse to fit parts they havnt supplied at an unfair mark up, how do I get the brakes fitted?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coE9n2XkpMU

Also, many independent garages will not get into working on modified cars or this sort of stuff because again it is difficult to stand over the work that you do, especially when it comes to clutches, brakes, etc. These cars are usually driven in a manner that will shorten the life time of clutches, tyres, brakes, etc.

10-01-2009 11:04PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coE9n2XkpMU

I never said I wouldnt fit brakes myself but most people would know nothing about what to do and would not have the tools. Some garages have done very well for themselves specialising in work on modified cars so its hardly a risky undertaking.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 11:06PM

Whitney Tangy Crab wrote: »

I never said I wouldnt fit brakes myself but most people would know nothing about what to do and would not have the tools. Some garages have done very well for themselves specialising in work on modified cars so its hardly a risky undertaking.

I'm not being smart here, it's a simple task and you'd have it done in 40 minutes to an hour.

10-01-2009 11:20PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

I'm not being smart here, it's a simple task and you'd have it done in 40 minutes to an hour.

I doubt the average punter could fit new discs, calipers and pads all round in an hour tbh!

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 11:26PM

Whitney Tangy Crab wrote: »

I doubt the average punter could fit new discs, calipers and pads all round in an hour tbh!

I thought you just wanted to change pads. A lot of garages won't entertain this type of work because if you are changing calipers and all this sort of stuff, you are replacing standard original parts that are original equipment manufacturer specification with non standard parts and if there is a problem with the part not fitting, or a problem with the braking performance subsequent to the part having been fitted, it's a complete headache. The original parts will have to be fitted and you won't want to pay for the time involved because you'll be getting the car back in the exact same state as when you dropped it off.

Mr.Diagnostic · 10-01-2009 11:29PM

Here’s a thought……anyone who bases their choice of mechanic on being allowed supply their own parts has set there standards too low.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 11:35PM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Here’s a thought……anyone who bases their choice of mechanic on being allowed supply their own parts has set there standards too low.

I agree. There are loads of mechanics who will let you bring your own parts, but they tend to be the same folks who if you bring a car into them with a diagnostic problem that requires more than 10 minutes of concentration, they don't want to know about it.

10-01-2009 11:36PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

I thought you just wanted to change pads..

Sorry! I should have been more clear on what I meant.

Although you cannot deny that there are garages who would have no problem doing this type of work.

10-01-2009 11:41PM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Here’s a thought……anyone who bases their choice of mechanic on being allowed supply their own parts has set there standards too low.

Just to be clear I only supply parts for my mechanic on his request or as I know him well now I can usually tell if he will have a part or not so in this case I would get the part rather than wait to be told.

Avns1s · 10-01-2009 11:42PM

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Here’s a thought……anyone who bases their choice of mechanic on being allowed supply their own parts has set there standards too low.

Here's another thought... some mechanics want their client to bring in their own parts some won't allow it, some clients want to bring their parts, some won't bear the thought of it. The world goes on and so long as the right mechanics and clients meet, all's well.

Only comment I have on it myself is that in the near future, if mechanics are as dogmatic on this (and other similar points) as some on here, they may be looking for alternative avenues of employment.

In essence, what I am saying is that 'the client is right', the secret is that the mechanic in this case works around that and develops a viable and successful business model based on the needs of their clients rather than their own preconceptions of what is "right".

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 11:42PM

Whitney Tangy Crab wrote: »

Although you cannot deny that there are garages who would have no problem doing this type of work.

Well there's a market for everything. I know that there are loads of folks who will do this stuff, I just wouldn't entertain it. There are mechanics out there that will happily spend an hour listening to boy racers talking sh*te about their wheels, to me, that's an hour of my time that someone else has to pay for.

Darragh29 · 10-01-2009 11:45PM

Avns1s wrote: »

Here's another thought... some mechanics want their client to bring in their own parts some won't allow it, some clients want to bring their parts, some won't bear the thought of it. The world goes on and so long as the right mechanics and clients meet, all's well.

Only comment I have on it myself is that in the near future, if mechanics are as dogmatic on this (and other similar points) they may be looking for alternative avenues of employment.

In essence, what I am saying is that the client is right, the secret is that the mechanic in this case works around that and develops a viable and successful business model based on the needs of their clients rather than their own preconceptions of what is "right".

Well I don't agree. There is no other industry that I know of where this type of messing and crap goes on. Customers can't have it both ways, either they want a standard of professionalism and want independent garages to commit to that and increase service standards or they don't.

Avns1s · 10-01-2009 11:49PM

Darragh29 wrote: »

Well I don't agree.

I didn't really expect you would.

Darragh, I really think you'd want to take life (and this thread just a little less seriously.

Supplying own parts for service

Comments